The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-12-09
Importance.

MANUFACTURERS URGED TO COOPERATE.
These interests constitute leading and
most substantial element of our national
greatness and furnish the proud proof of our
country's progress. But II In the emergency
that presses upon US our manufacturers are
asked to surrender something for the public
good and to avert disaster their patriotism.
as well as a grateful recognition of advan-
tages already afforded, should lead them to
willing cooperation. No demand is made
that they shall forego all the benefits of gov
ernmental regard, but they cannot fail to be
admonished of their duty, as well as their
enlightened self interest and safety, when
they are reminded Of the fact that financial
panic and collapse, to which the present con-
dition tends, afford no greater shelter or pro-
lection to our manufacturers than to our
other important enterprises. Opportunity
for safe, careful and deliberate reform is
now offered; and none of us should be un-
mindful Of time when an abused and irri-
tated people, needless of those who have re-
sisted timely and reasonable relief, may
insist upon radical and sweeping rectifica-
tion Of their wrongs.
The difficulty attending wise and fair
revision of our tariff laws Is not underesti-
mated. It will require on the part of the
congress great labor and care and especially
a broad and national contemplation of the
subject, and a patriotic disregard of such
local and selfish claims as are unreasonable
and reckless Of the welfare of the entire
country.
Under our present laws more than 4. 900
articles are subject to duty. Many of these
do not in any way compete with our own
manufactures, and many are hardly worth
attention as subjects of revenue. A consid-
erable reduction can be made in the aegre-
gate, by adding them to the free list. The
taxation Of luxuries presents no features of
hardship; but the necessares Of life used
and consumed by all the people, the duty
upon which adds to the cost of living in
every home, should be greatly cheapened
The radical reduction of the duties imposed
upon raw material used in manufactures. or
its free Importation, is, of course, an i'm
portant factor in any effort to reduce the
price of these necessaries; it would not only
relieve them from the increased cost caused
by the tariff on such material, but the man
ufactured product being thus cheapened,
that part of the tariff now laid upon such
product, as a compensation to our manufac-
turers for the present price Of raw material,
could be accordingly modified. Such re.
duction, or free importation, would serve
beside to largely reduce the revenue. 1t is
not apparent how such change can have
any injurious effect upon our manufac-
turers. On the contrary, it would appear to
give them better chance in foreign markets
with the manufacturers Of other countries.
who cheaper their wares by free material
Thus our people might have the opportunity
of extending their sales beyond the limits Of
home consumption-saving them from the
depression, interruption in business, and los
caused by glutted domestic market, and
affording their employees more certain and
steady labor, with its resulting quiet and
contentment.
PATRIOTIC DUTY INVOLVED.
The question thus imperatively presented
for solution should be approached in spirit
higher than partisanship and considered iu
the light Of that regard for patriotic duty
which should characterize the action of those
intrusted with the veal of q confiding peo.
pie. But the obligation to declared party
policy and principle is not wanting to urge
prompt and effective action. Both of the
great political parties now represented in the
government have, by repeated and authori-
tatiVe declarations, condemned the condition
OF eur laws which permit the collection from
the people OF Unnecessary revenue, and have,
IN tne most solemn manner, promised its cor
rection, and neither as citizens nor partisans
q
the deliberate violation Of these pledges.
NO QUESTION OF THEORIES.
Our progress toward a wise conclusion will
not be improved by dwelling upon the
theories of protection and free trade. This
savors too much of bandying epithets. 1t ia
acondition which ccnfronts us-not a theory.
relief from this condition may involve a
snght reduction of the advantages which we
award our home productions, but the entire
withdrawal of such advantages should not
Do contemplated. The question Of free trade
Us absolutely irrelevant; and the persistent
clalm made in certain quarters, that all
Efforts to relieve the people from unjust and
unnecessary taxation are schemes of SO called
Tree traders, is mschievous and far removed
from any consideration for the public good.
The simple and plain duty which we owe
the people is to reduce taxation to the neces-
'ary expenses of an economical operation of
the government and to restore to the bust.
ness OF the country the money which we
ho'd IN the treasury through the perversion
Oh governmental powers These things can
and should be done with safety to all our
Industries, without danger to the opportu-
nifty for remunerative labor which our
workingmen need, and with be eft to them
and all our people, by cheapening their means
OF subsistence and increasing the measure of
their comforts
ALL OTHER QUESTIONS LAID ASIDE,
The constitution provides that the presi-
dent 'shall, from time to time. give to the
congress information of the state of the
onion." 1t has been the custom of the ex-
scutlve, in compliance with this provision.
TO annually exhibit to the congress, at the
opening OF its session, the general condition
oi the country, and to detail, with some par
ucuiarlty, the operations of the different ex-
scutlve departments. IL would be especially
agreeable TO follow this course at the present
time, and to call attention to the valuable
accomplishments of these departments dur
ing the last fiscal year. But am SO much
impressed with the paramount importance
of the subject to which this communication
has thus far been devoted, that shall forego
lhe addition of any other topic, and only
arge upon your immediate consideration the
state OF the UnionS as shown in the present
sondition OF our treasury and our general
1scal situation, upon which every element
81 our safety and prosperity depends.
The reports Of the heads of departments,
which will be submitted, contain full and
EXPLICIT information touching the transaction
d the business intrusted to them, and such
recommendations relating TO legislation in
me public interest as they deem advisable.
ask for these reports and recommendations
me deliberate examination and action Of the
legislative branch of the government.
There are other subjects not embraced in
the departmental reports demanding legisla-
ave consideration and which / should be
glad to submit. Some OF them. howeyer
have been earnestly presented in previous
messages, and as to them beg leave to re-
peat prior recommendations.
As the law makes no provision for any re-
port from the department of state, brief
history OF the transactions of that important
department, together with other matters
which 1t may hereafter be deemed essential
20 commend to the attention Of congress,
may furnish the occasion for a future com.
munication. GROVER CIRyrIANn
Washington, Dec. o, 1897.